George Washington became official surveyor for Culpepper County, Virginia when he was 17 years old. Three years later he became district adjutant of the militia, with the rank of major.
Or more directly relevant: David Farragut, who became the U.S. Navy’s first Admiral at age 65, was given command of his first ship at age 12.
Teens can do amazing things if we give them a chance and hold high expectations from them.
I really wonder about all you folks. I was on my own in strange cities (Chicago, and other mid-west cities) when I was 11 years old. I got dropped off by a tour bus one time at the wrong address and managed to figure out what to do myself. My daughter (first child) was flying by herself when she was seven years old. She would visit my parents in Florida. In fact she visited them down there before I did; and when we all went as a family some months later she directed me from the airport to their building. She traveled to Europe to visit an aunt by herself when she was 11. She told us she could do these things and we knew she could. I feel sorry for people who treat their kids as if they were idiots.
ML/NJ
I am sorry, I don’t want to argue with you but I will take your statement to the next logical step. If your blanket statement is true, then the United States sends physiologically-impaired teens to war everyday. 18 year old young men and women are fighting for US right now. Should we raise the age of recruits to 20, 25, 30? I know a whole bunch of 30 year olds that I wouldn’t trust to take care of my dog. You cannot make blanket statements like that. Every human being is different.